3rd Week in London

I have no memory of what we did as a group or what I did as an individual on the 11th Monday of October…I will chock this up to the, apparently insignificant, day being over two weeks ago, however I would prefer to blame Will Smith and his red-flashy thing…but I will not go there, because
#1 it’s dorky
#2 it’s improbable
AND
#3 if it did happen I would not remember anyway…

On that note—why don’t I tell you about my 3rd week in London!

Tuesday the 12th of October

We headed out on a cold and frosty morning (well more cold than frost) to Warwick Castle…which was kind of interesting because it is an actual 13th castle that was held by a Duke and his lady for centuries; however it has been transformed into a type of medieval throwback theme park…they allow you to tour the interior of the castle as it would have appeared in the late 19th century, but they also have a Princess Tower where you can dress up and become a princess for the day, a Dungeon reenactment complete with creepy guards, authentic “catapult” reenactments, and do not forget the random villagers in full medieval costume wandering the grounds.

So needless to say it was a bit of a campy experience, close to something you might see in oh Branson, Missouri aside from the fact that you actually are IN ENGLAND and on the grounds of an ACTUAL CASTLE.

We spent the morning at Warwick, climbing up steps and fighting small children for a chance to be a princess for the day {sadly we were never allowed into the Princess Tower because they had reserved it for the school children who were visiting…. we were upset to say the least}

After a quick lesson from some young knights about our response to the question “Are you married?” {Which we found out the answer to be “Yes,” especially when asked by a stranger, because if you are older than 15 AND unmarried you could be suspected of witchcraft or just being ugly/un-marry-able} A quick lunch in ye ‘ole Medieval dinning hall then BACK TO THE BUS and on to…

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON…yes the birthplace of the one the only:

The William Shakespeare.

We quickly stopped by his wife’s, Anne Hathaway’s, home but only to take a picture or two of the outside.

Once we got into town we headed straight for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and began our “introduction” tour of the home and of Shakespeare’s life and works.

After the video introduction we were allowed to explore his childhood home and talk with people throughout the house who were appropriately dressed for Shakespeare’s time…they were also very informative and fun to listen to.

One of the most interesting facts that I heard was the reasoning behind dressing up young boys as girls…yes. In many pictures of little boys from the period, you will notice that up until they are about 12 or 13, they would many times be dressed to look like little girls.

I have heard two reasons for this action:
#1 In wealthier families boys were dressed as girls to avoid their being captured; there was a generally held fear among wealthier families that their sons could potentially be stolen and used to gain a ransom. So they reasoned that if they dressed the boys up as girls no one would steal them…because {as we all know} girls we not valued as boys were back in the day…..
#2 Baby boys were less likely to survive childhood than baby girls…less wealthy families dressed their boys up as girls to “confuse” the devil from taking them away at a young age. They did not want their baby boys to die young so they dressed them up as little girls…

Yeah I know right…but what are you going to do. Huh?

So there in lies the reason behind why little boys looked like little girls in younger portraits of themselves.

After we explored the home we exited into the courtyard to find a couple of actors ready to perform Shakespeare scenes by request…several of us were very excited so we started to yell out different plays for them to perform from…after listening a couple they finally settled on a scene from Hamlet.

So we set ourselves down and just let them go for almost an hour! It was fun listening and watching to them. They even did the famous “Romeo. Romeo” speech from Romeo and Juliet…the woman player even went up into the house and hung out the window! Ha ha

It was really fun getting to watch them.

After we indulged in their acting talent we headed for coffee THEN Stephanie and I found this amazing little teashop filled with beautiful teapots…so of course we each bought one!

{And yes I have used it almost everyday since I bought it!}

Then we hopped back onto the bus and went home to London!
I also do not remember what we did during the day on Wednesday the 13th…but I remember what we did the night of the 13th…

Several of the students went to see “Les Mis,” so Stephanie, Mindy, and I went to the next best place:

The Texas Embassy Cantina

That is right my friends I am in the middle of London, England and I went to a “Tex-Mex” restaurant. But I am here to tell you that it was far from authentic American “Tex-Mex.”

{However they did have free refills on soda which was actually one of the reasons we went….oh the Europeans and their non-refilling ways}

So I ordered cheese dip…I had already eaten a late lunch so I wasn’t too hungry…but I tell you that this was on of the worst food mistakes of my life because I was not brought a bowl of amazing excellent meaty awesome cheese dip….wrong. I was brought a nasty bowl of melty runny cheese wiz….blah. So I was a bit upset…I mean I ate some of it but after a while it was just impossible to even down…so thankfully Mindy had ordered a HUGE double bacon cheese burger, that she could not finish, so she allowed me to finish it off for her.

It was possibly one of the best burgers I’ve ever had…so I let myself forget about the cheese wiz incident and enjoy the end of Mindy’s burger.

While we were in the Texas Embassy Cantina we made friends with a couple of American gentlemen, our Dad’s ages, who happen to be seated next to us. It was fun to hear a familiar accent and take some time to talk with other American’s in London.

After dinner we headed out into the London air to explore the city a little bit! We walked all the way from Piccadilly Circus to Westminster then across the bridge to Waterloo! I know probably that means nothing to you but we walk a ways. Ha ha good thing for the Tube system because we just hopped on at the Waterloo station and headed back to our flat.

Thursday the 14th of October

After classes we all headed out to tour Westminster Abbey, however when we got there we discovered that there was a “private ceremony” going on in the Abbey, so we were unable to enter.

A quick change of plans and a quick hop back on the Tube and we arrived instead at St. Paul’s (which we were schedule to see anyways).

It is a beautiful cathedral; very ornate and filled with history. You can walk all the way to the top of the dome to the outside and see the entire city; the walk is very long and high and I do not like heights…and my asthma has not been my friend in London (due to the pollution) so I did not end up walking the whole way up; I did walk up to the first part of the dome however and tried my luck at the “whispering wall.”

The design of the dome is such that is you sit on opposite sides of the dome and whisper in the wall the people on the exact opposite side of you are supposed to be able to hear what you are saying…Courtney and Lauren G. went to the other side to see if we could hear each other. Lauren B., Lyndsey and I whispered and whispered….and then when we least expected it I heard Lauren! Ha ha

So we proved that it is not a hoax the whispering wall is actually real…you just have to be very patient and whisper extra loud.

After we all explored the cathedral we met on the steps and headed to group dinner!

And the place we went is actually frequented by the creator and original genius of the British “the Office” Ricky Gervaus…it was an excellent Indian restaurant and we came earlier, so they would give us a deal, and we just had a ball talk and eating spicy food! We did not see Ricky though…I was severely disappointed.

Friday the 15th of October

This was an excellent Friday…and it began with a bang because I had several errands to run.

The errands were for our afternoon Jane Austen high tea extravaganza! ☺

I had to get an extra teapot and milk dishes so we could make sure to be extra fancy and make Jane herself proud.

Lauren arrived in the afternoon and we both headed to the grocery store to gather our goodies for the tea; and we got a lot! Cakes, brownies, scones, cookies, sandwiches, and strawberries—I know we are too good to the HUE kids aren’t we?

After a quick set up we started to steep the tea and we awaited our guests; everyone had a wonderful time. We had an excellent set up in one of the FSU facility rooms down stairs. It was perfect.

Jane Austen discussion was not the main topic of conversation, as planned, but we did get some good comments in about the novels and about writing in general—so we were all pleased.

Friday night Stephanie, Mindy, Lyndsey, and I very excitedly ventured off into the night to see a BALLET!

It was a “three part” ballet consisting of a more traditional set, a more theatrical/musical set, and then an athletic modern dance set.

It was completely amazing—we were all in raptures and none of us wanted to leave! We had so much fun just indulging in the talent of the dancers and listening to the musicians.

After the ballet we were starving so a quick stop at Burger King and a couple of “reenactments” later we were home.

Saturday the 16th of October

Stephanie and I decided to venture once more to Portobello road…it was not the first time and I dare say it will not be the last either.

It is so fun heading down with the masses to explore and search the treasures and junk that is at Portobello Road.

AND I discovered a new talent while I was there…I guess I knew I had this talent, however I did not realize how much I enjoy it until Stephanie pointed it out…I am an exceptional barterer. Yes. Barterer.

I love talking people down on prices, chatting with venders, asking them about their wares and their business. I bought a couple of gifts and other things while I was there and I did not pay the original/listed price on anything…I talked every single person down. I even helped Stephanie buy some stuff and I got all of those people to go down on their prices as well…

This is so funny to me; but I just love it! I don’t know what comes over me I just jump in and start charming away…and if you had known me even two years ago you know how strange this is…I can be loud and in front of a crowd of friends or even strangers, but in general I am not the one to interrupt or impose my thoughts on anyone or any situation if I think it will in anyway make someone else uncomfortable…aka co-dependent. Ha ha. But I mean I’ve been growing God’s working {always} and perhaps one of my new skills is this bartering thing! Ha ha

So if you ever need someone to negotiate on a price for you…I’m your girl ;)

We had a lot of fun…but my most favorite purchase is my new authentic hand made leather bag! That I got for oh 35 pounds!!!! Talked her down from I think 40 or 44….I know right! It is wonderful. I love it so much.

Sunday the 17th of October

This was our first Sunday to venture out as a group to the Wembley Church of Christ…which is the Church the HUE group has been involved with for years. Different events and schedules have kept us from going out there as a group so we were all excited to see and be with the congregation at Wembley.

It was an interesting trip out there because the Tube line that we would need to get out there has been un repairs during the weekends…so we had to find, well I had to find, and alternate bus route there…it was interesting and a little nerve racking trying to figure out the bus system BUT eventually with some help from Dr. Organ I figured it out! And we got there on time! After a 45-50 minute trek from central London to the suburbs….

It was a great service. The congregation was so welcoming and so sweet. Mindy and I made a sweet friend, an older woman who is originally from India. She just talked our ears off and we loved it!

Nathan Guy and his wife told us about a different/shorter route that we should take back sooo…. We did and it worked out pretty well. No Tube changes, just one bus and one tube which was nice and we are for sure using it again to go to church when the Tube’s are down…which they probably will be.

So that in a nutshell…a pretty long nutshell was our 3rd week in London.

We have a lot of fun together and all of us girls love living in a flat together…I won’t lie it gets a little crazy with 7 girls, 2 bathrooms and 1 kitchen but we are making it work and we are learning to love each other and the younger girls are learning to be cleaner….I am a bit of a stickler...in the kindness R.A way possible…ha ha

With a lot of love from London

Caroline <><